Leaving is hell, especially on dreary, dismal days, which only rush the hemorrhaging of bleeding hearts and heighten the tension of departure. “The traveler’s guilty pleasure is staying home,” wrote Paul Theroux, and those words came to me as I stood looking out at the dripping leaves and grey sky of morning. It had been…
Ending the Year at the Sabie Bubble Run
For the past six years, South African motorcyclists have been making the annual pilgrimage from Johannesburg to the small town of Sabie for the Sabie Bubble Run, South Africa’s only traditional motorcycle run. The motorcycle run started in 2014 when three friends set out from Johannesburg on their motorcycles for a weekend of riding and…
2021 Yokohama Sonora Rally Postponed
The cancellation or postponing of events is common news these days, but organizers are doing what they can to work around COVID-19 restrictions. The 2021 Yokohama Sonora Rally is one of many who have been forced to reschedule. The event, normally scheduled in March, will be moved back to May 9-14. From presenters Method Race…
Riding Full Circle: The U-Turn
A long and unexpected delay during a round-the-world journey
Garmin inReach Explorer Satellite Communication
Product Review—Garmin inReach Satellite Communication First off, a disclaimer: my husband and I used Garmin inReach Explorer Satellite Communication during a round-the-world motorcycle trip that lasted 708 days. DeLorme inReach (bought out by Garmin in 2016) gave us two Explorer devices—one we received on loan; the other we paid for at a 50-percent discount. The company…
Long-awaited 2022 KLR650 Motorcycle Released!
Many adventure moto riders will argue a KLR650 is the best choice for a round-the-world motorcycle: you’re likely to find Kawasaki parts in most countries, and few manufacturers can compete with the KLR’s low price. Not that any of us want our round-the-world steeds stolen, but if your KLR is highjacked, you’re only out about…
The Armchair Adventure Festival 2021
For almost a year now, many of us have been dreaming of when or where our next adventure might be. While most of us spend time wondering if we have the money and time to travel, this past year has been different in that respect. Even with money and time, travel itineraries were severely limited…
Sena’s New 3S Plus Boom and 3S Plus Universal Has Arrived
Digital communication for riders is vital. Nothing is worse than hearing “failure to connect” when your riding partner is going down the wrong side of the road in a left-side-drive country. Or when they can’t tell you to merge right in time for the next exit. I know—not everybody likes to fidget with gadgetry on…
Boost Your Confidence Through Motorcycling by Alisa Clickenger | Book Review
Boost Your Confidence Through Motorcycling by Alisa Clickenger Non-fiction, instructional $20 Alisa Clickenger was a shy, depressed housewife when she decided to reinvent herself and learn to ride a motorcycle. Reeling from a painful divorce, Alisa found that learning to ride was not only cathartic, she was also developing skills to rebuild the confidence missing…
The Prometheus Design Werx A.G. Wilderness Quilt for Rooftop Tents
Want to snuggle with your significant other, your dog, or maybe just get under something cozy after a long day? Prometheus Design Werx has just introduced their A.G. Wilderness Quilt, a premium goose-down comforter you can use in your two-person tent, rooftop rig, or for couch-potatoing. The quilt is like your down comforter at…
BMW Motorrad International GS Trophy 2022 to be Held in Albania
The BMW Motorrad International GS Trophy is an event intended just for BMW GS bikes and is purposely set along the type of challenging terrain GSs are made for. The BMW Motorrad International GS Trophy course happens every two years (since 2008) in spectacular host countries that allow for legal off-pavement travel. In the summer…
What is the Dakar Rally?
Dakar is the largest city in Senegal, and also the country’s capital. Most of the overlanding crowd, however, associates the word “Dakar” with an insane off-road vehicle speed race—or with a fraction less hyperbole, the world’s toughest motorsport challenge. Founded in 1977, the race, originally called the Paris-Dakar Rally, staged from Paris, France across the…
Arabia Makes Soldiers of Us All
Press Release (unedited) SS2: Arabia Makes Soldiers of Us All So, Which of the Racers Are Ready to Fight for Their Dreams? Words: Westx1000 Photos: Justin W. Coffey This article was written by Westx1000 on Day 3 of the 43rd Dakar Rally and is a snapshot of coverage for that day. This year (2021) marks…
UBCO’s 2×2 Utility Electric Vehicle
UPDATE: check out the UBCO app. Whatever your opinion on electric vehicles, one category is taking off, and that’s the 2×2 UEV (Utility Electric Vehicle). These rugged, on- and off-road e-bikes are so popular that UBCO—a UEV founder—has been backordered for months. Although the bikes are hitting US dealers now, most have been preordered and…
RawHyde Adventures’ ZAKAR Event Center and a New Fleet of GS Bikes
RawHyde Adventures has some exciting news for 2021. The “#1 enduro training facility in the country” will open its newly finished ZAKAR event center to the public. ZAKAR stands for Zombie Apocalypse Kompund At Rawhyde. If you’re curious about the name, read more here. The event center sits on 2,500 acres in the Mojave Desert…
Stacie London—In a Straight Line
The first thing that catches me when I watch the film In A Straight Line is that Stacie B. London’s nail polish isn’t scratched or chipped. The film opens with her wrenching on a 1967 Harley Davidson Aermacchi, and those red-hot nails—like fast cars and stilettos—are flawless. This, however, is no indication that the vintage car…
Riding Solo Episodes by Sterling Noren
Sterling Noren, adventure travel filmmaker, set off in July of 2020 on a BMW GS, riding solo throughout the western US. His 6,000-mile, 30-day journey is available for viewing on the Motorcycle Travel Channel. The Riding Solo series captures the widespread, stark beauty still prevalent in the US, even while it seems these places are…
OnX Goes 3D for Pre-run Planning
Like myself, many of you have enjoyed the OnX Offroad app since it launched in 2019. They have now expanded their service to include 3D mapping for unique trails and roads for planning and viewing purposes. The benefits of diving into your route before you even turn off the pavement include viewing technical features on…
Ensure Valuable Items are Theftproof On Your Motorcycle
When my husband, Dave, and I were planning our round-the-world trip, one of our biggest conundrums was how to ensure our valuable items were theftproof on our motorcycles when we weren’t there. Helmets, riding jackets, tank bags—we didn’t want to walk around with that stuff all day. For solo travelers, it’s even harder; they don’t…
Overland Expo West Postponed to September 24-26, 2021
Indianapolis, Indiana — Lodestone Events, producers of the Overland Expo event series, has postponed Overland Expo West to September 24-26, 2021. Traditionally held mid-May in Flagstaff, AZ, Overland Expo West has been postponed to ensure the health and safety of fans, exhibitors, staff, and the surrounding Flagstaff community. “Overland Expo West is our flagship and…